Trump’s Transportation Department Celebrates 19 Safety Partners for Innovations in Lifesaving Vehicle Tech

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today honored 19 traffic safety partners for their significant contributions to vehicle safety engineering, research, and leadership. Their work has directly helped to keep families safe on our roadways.

At the 28th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV) in Toronto, NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison and Transport Canada's Melanie Vanstone presented the ESV Safety Engineering Excellence and Special Appreciation Awards to this year's honorees.

"These awardees are dedicated leaders in their field, and their research and work help further our efforts to make our roads and vehicles safer for everyone," said NHTSA Administrator Morrison. "I congratulate them on their achievements and thank them for their commitment to traffic safety and saving lives."

Awardees were recognized in the following two categories:

ESV Awards for Safety Engineering Excellence

In recognition of and appreciation for exceptional scientific contributions in the field of motor vehicle safety engineering and for distinguished service to the motoring public.

Peter Burns
Chief, Human Factors and Crash Avoidance, Transport Canada
Citation: For his outstanding contributions to road safety research.

John Capp
Director, Global Vehicle Safety Technology, Strategy, and Regulations, General Motors, United States
Citation: For his visionary leadership in automotive safety, development of advanced vehicle technologies, and monumental impacts on occupant protection and behavioral safety.

Duane Cronin
Professor, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Canada
Citation: For his unwavering commitment and impactful advancements in advancing the future of road safety.

Carol Flannagan
Research Professor, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, United States
Citation: For her pioneering research in transportation safety, groundbreaking development of advanced data-driven algorithms, and transformative impact on evidence-based vehicle safety policy.

Christoph Höhmann
Manager, Technical Compliance Autonomous Driving, Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Germany
Citation: For his outstanding contributions to motor vehicle safety.

Michaela Kolbe
Advanced Restraint Systems Engineer, ZF Automotive Germany GmbH, Germany
Citation: For her significant contributions to adaptive restraint research.

Philip Koopman
Emeritus Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, United States
Citation: For his unparalleled expertise and transformative contributions to automated vehicles and the advancement of global safety standards.

Nobuhiko Takahashi
Technical Principal, Nissan Motor Co., Japan
Citation: In recognition for his significant contributions to automotive safety innovation.

Emma Tivesten
Driver State Technical Expert, Volvo Cars, Sweden
Citation: For her invaluable contributions to advanced vehicle safety.

Chris Urmson
CEO and co-founder, Aurora, United States
Citation: For his visionary leadership, ingenuity, and transformative impact in the field of automated vehicle safety.

Special Appreciation Award

In recognition of and appreciation for outstanding leadership and special contributions in the field of motor vehicle safety.

Anna Berling
Traffic and Product Safety Director. Volvo Trucks, Sweden
Citation: In recognition of her outstanding contributions and unwavering dedication to traffic safety.

Alain Bussières
President, PMG Technologies, Canada
Citation: For his leadership and dedication to roadway safety.

Jochen Feese
Head, Accident Research, Concepts, Sensor Functions, & Electrical and Electronic Systems Integral Safety, Mercedes Benz AG, Germany
Citation: For his exceptional vision and leadership in traffic safety.

William Gouse
Director, Federal Program Development, SAE International, United States
Citation: For his landmark efforts in the advancement of automotive global safety standards.

Joanne Harbluk
Human Factors Specialist, Transport Canada
Citation: For her groundbreaking work in human factors research.

Takao Onoda
Senior Advisor to GM, Japan Domestic Marketing, Komatsu, Japan
Citation: For his contributions to international vehicle safety regulations.

Volker Sandner
Senior Manager, Vehicle Safety, ADAC, Germany
Citation: For his transformative efforts in global vehicle safety assessment.

Peter Striekwold
Manager of Vehicle Standards Development, RDW, the Netherlands
Citation: For his outstanding dedication to advancing global vehicle safety and his instrumental leadership in shaping the ESV conference.

Kenji Wani
Executive Director, the National Examination Center for Motor Vehicle Operation Manager, Japan
Citation: For his significant contributions to vehicle safety standards.